Idol Office!
The moment I opened the office door, a powerful sense of wrongness washed over me. I figured out the source as I walked toward my desk. All my belongings, which should have been sitting right there on top, were crammed into a blue box.
"What... is this?"
"Oh, Sang-woo, you're here? I took care of packing for you, right? I put in some special effort."
Sunbae sipped her coffee and chuckled. She always loved watching me pull all-nighters and teasing me about it, but today she seemed especially chipper. I stared down at my humidifier and mouse, tossed carelessly into the blue box.
"I'd like an explanation. Why is my stuff in here?"
It wasn't sunbae who answered my question—it was the section chief. He didn't even look up from his stack of papers, just stated it flatly.
"Sang-woo, you're being transferred. The Association's doing a collaboration project with a private management company. They sent down an official request for one person from our department."
"Can you decide that without the person's consent?"
"Your rotation period's coming up anyway. So we figured we'd kill two birds with one stone and nominate you. Haven't sent the recommendation yet, so we can pull it if you don't want."
"Then why is my stuff already—"
"Seo-ha heard me and started grinning like an idiot, packing it all up on the spot?"
I shot sunbae a glare. She looked smug as hell. Like she'd get thanks if the transfer went through for her "help," or if not, she'd enjoy watching me unpack while grumbling. Win-win for her.
"Hey, they say private companies are different starting from the break room. Go climb the ladder!"
My head throbbed.
"Can I... refuse?"
"Heard you get a 5% raise if you take the project."
"I'll do it."
5% raise. No need to think twice. Thank you, section chief.
"Great. I'll go ahead and submit the recommendation then." The chief paused while signing a document and looked at me. "Oh, almost forgot. The Association requested two people for this project. I had you in mind for one spot. For the other, you pick. Take someone you'll work well with."
The rustling noise from beside me stopped dead. Sunbae, who'd been humming while shoving my remaining stuff into the box, froze mid-air. She slunk back to her desk like a puppy caught in the act.
"Sunbae, your monitor's off. What are you staring at so intently?"
"Pure black is the pinnacle of minimalism..."
She avoided my eyes, drilling holes into the powered-off screen like it held the world's most vital secrets. I could see her hands trembling with tension.
I slowly turned my head, savoring Joo Seo-ha sunbae's profile. Payback for a few days ago.
"I'll take Joo Seo-ha sunbae."
My voice was clearer than ever.
"......What?"
Sunbae's face twisted in shock, the total opposite.
"Sunbae showed so much enthusiasm for the project, even packing my stuff herself. Feels reassuring to have someone like that with me. Shall we, sunbae?"
"Hey, Lee Sang-woo. Hold on, talk to me for a sec...!"
"Perfect. Joo Seo-ha, you're up for rotation next month anyway, right? Great. Pack up and start at the new place tomorrow."
With the chief's final word, Joo sunbae stood there, mouth agape, frozen solid. My joy at the 5% raise clashed with her unwanted transfer. Still, I helped her pack.
......
The next morning, we stood in front of a sleek building. Sunbae looked hollow-eyed, like she'd barely slept.
She muttered in denial even as we entered the lobby. "This is a dream. When I wake up, I'll be back in our department office, sipping instant coffee."
"Sunbae, there's a coffee shop on the first floor instead of instant mixes. Private companies really are on another level."
I impassively took the lead and pressed the elevator button. We were set to meet the dedicated director on the 15th floor.
"Sang-woo, so what's this business anyway?"
"Magical girl idols are booming these days, right? The Association's getting interested in the idol biz too. Seems like they're managing one group through this public-private collab to gain experience."
Magical girl idols. What a beautiful phrase.
"But why us...? We don't know squat about entertainment."
"Idols or not, they're magical girls first. We'll handle one as her manager for magical girl activities."
Ding. The elevator arrived at the 15th floor.
The doors slid open to reveal sophisticated interiors—nothing like the drab K-granite gray of public offices.
"Oh, you must be from the Association, yo?"
A voice with a weird accent. In its direction stood a man in flashy trot-style suit with see-through pants. I prayed for my optic nerves' peace as I glimpsed the garish patterned underwear peeking through.
Joo sunbae beside me gaped, her soul half-departed already.
"Ah, yes... Lee Sang-woo, transferred from Disaster Response. This is Investigator Joo Seo-ha."
"Oh! Nice to meet you, brother and sister! Me is Michael Choi, creative visual director and overall manager for this project. Just call me Michael, cool?"
He threw a flamboyant wink with dramatic hand gestures.
Ugh...
"Come on in first, yo. Let me introduce you to Luminus Entertainment! Ah, Association folks might not be used to this vibe?"
Michael pranced down the hall like he was dancing. ...No, he was actually dancing as he walked.
Posters of Luminus idols lined the walls. Sunbae yanked my sleeve in desperation.
"Hey, can I beg the chief to take me back now? I don't need the 5%. My mental health's worth more than 5%..."
"Sunbae, the recommendation's already submitted. Those pants... haa... not easy. I got nothing."
I forcibly shifted my gaze to the ceiling.
"What the investigator duo has to do is so simple! Just dedicate yourselves to one member of our magical girl idol group BLOSSOM, and manage her magical girl activities, yo."
Michael spun a flashy turn and stopped at a door emblazoned with a huge flower symbol.
He turned to us with exaggerated gestures, like a clown about to unveil a treasure chest.
"Here is Luminus's ambitious prospect! BLOSSOM's group practice room! Brother Sang-woo, the cutie girl you're in charge of is right—"
Shhhk. The automatic door slid open, revealing the interior.
"Huh? Where'd she go, yo???"
But the person he meant to introduce seemed gone.
"Oh, my cherry! Where'd you hide, yo? No more hide-and-seek!"
As Michael panicked and peered into every corner, footsteps approached from behind.
170cm tall, model-like long legs that asserted their graceful presence even through baggy training pants. More importantly, an overwhelming volume that her oversized gray boxy hoodie couldn't suppress...!
"Haa...?"
She noticed my stare and scowled unpleasantly.
"Ga-yeon! Where were you, yo! You knew there was an important meeting today, yo!"
"Took a walk. ...Can you do something about those hideous pants?"
Agreed.
"Hey. These pants are me's symbol, yo! Without them, I wouldn't be Michael Choi, yo!"
"So, who are these people?"
"Oh! These are the special investigator duo dispatched by the Association just for you, Brother Sang-woo and Sister Seo-ha! Precious bodies to support your magical girl activities, yo."
Before Michael's over-the-top intro finished, Ga-yeon's eyes narrowed in disgust, like she'd spotted filth. Especially at me.
"Michael, I told you I don't like men."
"Couldn't be helped, yo. Not me's call, yo!"
I offered a greeting to ease the awkwardness.
"Haha... Lee Sang-woo here, from Response until recently. Nice to meet you."
"...Yeah."
She stared at my outstretched hand for a long moment, then ignored it.
"Hello! Joo Seo-ha, also from Response until recently. Feel free to call me unnie."
"Nice to meet you, Joo Seo-ha-ssi."
Still icy, but she shook sunbae's hand.
"Brother Sang-woo! Don't get down, yo. This is magical girl Cherry Dream, Miss Baek Ga-yeon! She's just shy, but a good kid!"
Michael clapped my shoulder to liven things up, but Ga-yeon's expression soured further.
"Miss Ga-yeon, Brother Sang-woo is an ace talent even in the Association! He'll step up your 'image' and 'power' another level, yo!"
"Partner?"
Ga-yeon snorted shortly.
"Investigator Lee Sang-woo, was it."
"Yes. Go ahead."
I kept my smile as professional as possible.
"Don't look me straight in the eyes. It's unpleasant."
"......"
"And don't come within two meters of me. Except when absolutely necessary for work. Got it?"
This wasn't just shyness. It was near-physiological hostility.
Even sunbae, who loved teasing me, stayed silent.
"Joo Seo-ha-ssi can stay by my side. Lucky she's a woman."
"Ah, yeah. But Sang-woo's not a bad guy."
"I'll decide that myself."
Ha... With a 5% raise, I've hit the jackpot for a rough road ahead.